en.Wedoany.com Reported - Dish DBS and its wireless communications subsidiary have filed for bankruptcy under EchoStar, triggered by debt issues and the delay of an AT&T spectrum transaction that led to the shutdown of the 5G network. The company has shut down Dish Wireless's 5G network.

A $2 billion secured bond with an annual interest rate of 7.75% matured on July 1, and Dish DBS failed to fulfill its repayment obligations. The funds were originally expected to come from a spectrum sale deal with AT&T announced in August 2025, under which EchoStar planned to sell approximately 50 MHz of its nationwide spectrum for $23 billion. The delay in the transaction process led to a liquidity shortage for Dish DBS.

Creditors holding over 88% of Dish's debt, including those with more than $8.8 billion in claims against Dish Wireless, have approved the bankruptcy plan. The plan is expected to accelerate the bankruptcy process, allowing the company to exit bankruptcy by the third quarter.

Charlie Ergen, co-founder and chairman of EchoStar's board, stated that the company has been deeply involved in the telecommunications industry for over 45 years, and these measures will ensure a stronger future for the business. Operations will remain normal during the bankruptcy process, and customer service standards will remain unchanged.

Under a prearranged agreement, once the transaction with AT&T is completed or the plan takes effect, the principal and interest of the bonds maturing on July 1 will be immediately settled in full in cash.

In Russia, from 2022 to 2025, the number of households with access to satellite TV increased from 25 million to 25.7 million. During the same period, the number of satellite TV users on paid subscription models decreased from 14.3 million to 12.5 million.